Child-Initiated Early Writing

Learning to write takes many years, patience and much perseverance. This book is about finding many different ways to make this process fun and productive for both the child and the educator during the years before formal schooling begins.

The process of writing should be enjoyable and exciting but can be thwarted if there is undue pressure of a desired outcome. In this country, with the pressure of government targets, we do make heavy weather of learning to write. Teaching children to be a fluent writer is going to take several years so why not spend time pleasurably and purposefully in the pre school years while the children are learning about writing.

The ideas in this book will need support and guidance initially as children come to learn about writing. As with most early years activities children have to be shown how to use the resources first. But it will not be long before they are not only able to manage the activity by themselves but adapt and extend it.

Ages: 2-5 years

Child-Initiated Early Writing

About the Authors

Lynn Clere

Lynn Clere started her career as an Early Years Co-ordinator then became the Network Support teacher in Staffordshire's first Early Years Centre. She worked for five years as an Associate Lecturer with the Open University. In 2004 began consultancy work - presenting workshops for Surestart parents carers and professionals.
Picture of Bridie Raban

Bridie Raban

Bridie Raban was the Foundation Mooroolbeek Professor of Early Childhood Studies at the University of Melbourne. She is currently an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education and in 2021, she was awarded an Honorary University Fellowship by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). Her past research has focused on language and literacy development, teacher change and development, curriculum and assessment for the early childhood years and quality provision. She was the first Professor of Early Childhood Education in Victoria and the second in Australia, and before this she was Professor of Primary Education (Early Years) at the University of Warwick and President of the UK Reading Association.